Rotary water spraying devices



July 20, 1965 R. D. R. SANDIE ROTARY WATER SPRAYING DEVICES Filed Oct. 24, 1963 IIwEm/l Arm/Mrs 3,195,817 RUTARY WATER SFRAYHNG DEVICES Robert Douglas Ridgeway Sandie, Mildura, Victoria, Australia, assignor to Die (Iasters Proprietary Limited, Victoria, Australia, a corporation of Victoria Filed Get. 24, 1963, Ser. No. 313,645 Claims priority, application Australia, Oct. 24, 1962,

23,547/62 Claims. (Cl. 239-252) This invention relates to rotary sprinkler devices for watering crops, gardens and other surfaces and concerns that type of sprinkler which is adapted for mounting upon an upstanding water delivery pipe or the like and includes a laterally projecting nozzle which is free to rotate about the upstanding delivery pipe under the influence of the pressure of water delivered thereto whereby water issuing from the nozzle is sprayed over a relatively wide area surrounding the delivery pipe.

Known types of sprinklers in common use for the above purpose include short-arm sprinklers in which a small rotor rotates rapidly and covers a limited area of ground and long-arm sprinklers in which the sprinkler jets are mounted at the end of relatively long arms in order to give a slow rotational speed and thereby enable relatively large jets to be used so that a large area of ground may be covered. The long arm type of sprinkler is simple in construction but is relatively clumsy and expensive. On the other hand it has not hitherto proved possible to rotate the short rotor type of sprinkler slowly at an even and reliable speed eXcept by the use of additional mechanisms such as spring-controlled deflector arms which give an intermittent rotation.

An object of the present invention is to provide a rotary sprinkler device which is capable of rotating slowly and evenly at a controlled velocity without the use of long arms or auxiliary mechanical devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and reliable rotary sprinkler device which is of relatively simple construction and operates reliably.

Accordingly the present invention provides an improved rotary water sprinkler of the kin-d indicated comprising a hollow body member and mounting means for securing said body member to the associated water delivery pipe, said mounting means including a stationary spindle or pillar having an open ended passage therethrough and being provided with means for detachably connecting it to the hollow body member, part of said spindle projecting from the hollow body member and being provided at its outer end with means for detachably coupling it to said water delivery pipe, said spindle "being also provided at an intermediate point at its length with a rubber or like resilient sealing ring, an associated bearing ring carried by said hollow body member and which has an endless incline-d bearing surface on that face adjacent to said sealing ring, said bearing ring being composed of polytetrafiuorethylene or other plastic material having a similar low initial co-efiicient of friction, said bearing surface being inclined transversely and inwardly towards the opposite face thereof the arrangement being such that in use said hollow body member and said spindle are urged and held axially apart by the influence of water under pressure passing through said spindle into said hollow body whereby said sealing and bearing rings are maintained in engagement and the sealing ring is compressed radially inwardly by said inclined bearing surface thus yieldably opposing rotation of said body member about its stationary spindle whilst simul taneously providing a rotary water seal between said relatively rotatable sealing and bearing rings.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional elevation of a water sprinkler device in accordance with the present invention.

"United States Patent 0 3,195,817 Patented July 20, 1965 FIGURE 2, is a side elevation of a water sprinkler see-n in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an inverted plan view of FIGURE 1, parts being omitted for convenience of illustration.

FIGURE 4 is an exploded view of several of the parts of the mounting means as seen in FIGURE 1.

In accordance with the present invention the improved rotary sprinkler device includes a hollow body member 6 having a depending skirt 7 defining the entrance to the body portion and forming an annular shoulder 8 on the bottom of the skirt which is also provided with an external screw thread 9 for the purpose hereinafter described.

The hollow body member 6 is also provided with a main laterally projecting nozzle 11 and assuming that the main axis of the hollow body member is substantially upright when the sprinkler device is in use, the main nozzle is preferably incline-d upwardly towards its outer end 12 in relation to the main axis of the body member. In addition the main nozzle is offset in relation to the main axis of the body member as seen more clearly in FIGURE 3 of the drawings and the main nozzle preferably tapers towards its outer end where it may be fitted with a removable jet 13 of any suitable type. If desired, the water passage through the nozzle may be provided with one or more longitudinal partitions adjacent to the associated jet.

in order to avoid undesirable tilting of the sprinkler device when in use, the hollow body member is preferably provided with a balance weight which may take the form of a laterally projecting wing 14 located at that side of the body member remote from the main nozzle. This wing may be of substantially plate-like formation in cross section and be offset in relation to but be substantially parallel with the said nozzle.

A subsidiary nozzle 16 of smaller size than, and inclined in relation to, the main nozzle may be provided to direct a water stream covering an area immediately surrounding the sprinkler device because in practice it is usually found that the main nozzle sprays an area further out.

The rotary sprinkler device is adapted to be carried by an upstanding stationary delivery pipe or the like (not shown) extending to any suitable height above ground level and mounting means are provided for securing the hollow body member 6 to the delivery pipe so that it is capable of rotating in relation thereto.

Such mounting means includes an open ended spindle or pillar 17 of predetermined length so that the upper portion of the spindle is accommodated within the hollow body member 6 whilst the remainder of the spindle projects downwardly beyond the depending skirt 7 in such a manner that the spindle is coaxial with the main axis of the body member.

This spindle is preferably provided at an intermediate point in its length with a laterally projecting annular flange 18 having inner and outer faces 19, 21 which serve as abutments as hereinafter described. The spindle also may be fitted with a removable collar 22 which forms a slidable fit on the inner end portion of the spindle and is preferably provided with a laterally projecting annular flange 23 on the upper end of the collar. The upper end portion of the collar and its flange form an endless hearing surface 24 which may be of substantially semi circular and convex formation in cross section.

Associated with the collar is a bearing ring 25 which may be of slightly larger diameter than the flange 23 on the collar. This bearing ring is adapted to seat upon an internal circular shoulder 26 surrounding the main water passage through the hollow body member 6 and normally remains stationary upon its seating whilst being engaged by the bearing surface 24 on the associated collar standingiwater delivery pipe.

of-the 22. The inner diameter tion of the spindle 17.

Springmea-ns are employedfor urging the flanged collar into engagement with its associated bearing .ring and for this purpose a coil spring 27 may encircle the inner end portion of the spindle between the annular flange 18 thereon and the flange 23 on the collar. a a

Associated with the foregoing are means for detachably connecting the spindle to the hollow body member in coaxial relationship. For this purposea screwed coupling is preferably employed which may take. the formiof a flanged sleeve 28 having an internal screw thread adapted to engage the externalscrew thread 9 on the depending skirt of the body member. The flange 29 on the sleeve is located at the lowerend thereof and extends inwardly so as to underlie the annular shoullder 8 on the bottom of the skirt:

Associated with the screwed sleeve is a combined bearhard up into engagement with the annular shoulder 8 on the depending skirt. a

The combined bearing and sealing ring 31 is also preferably provided with'means for locating it-within its sleeve and such locating meansmay-consis't of a stepped shoulder a 32 forming a depending annular flange 33 on the lower face of the combinedbearing and sealing ring, the said flange 33 being adapted to form a neat fit within the central hole 34 of'the flange 29 on; the lower end ofthe screwed sleeve. I

The opposite face of the combined bearing and sealing,

ring 31 is adapted to form a rotatable sealing engagement with a sealing ring 36 of rubber or like-resilient material which is preferably of circular shape in cross section. and

forms a close fit on the spindle pipe against the lower or outer face of the annular flangelS thereon.

The adjacent face of the combined bearing and 'seal-.

ing ring 31fextends-at its outer edge 37 at substantially right angles to the axis of the ring so as to engage the shoulder 8 on the depending skirt whilstthe inneredge' portion of the combined bearing and sealing ring is inclined so as to form' an annular bearing surface 38 which is adapted to rotatably engage the associated resilient sealing ring 36 whichnormally remains fixed in position won the spindle ended pipe.

' .The inclined bearing surface of said bearing gringis preferably inclined to the axis of the spindle at"anjangl between and 67 /2 such as for example As the combined bearing and sealing ring 31 slidably' engages the resilient sealing ring 36 it iscomposed of a plastic material such as polytetrafluorethylene orother plastic material havinga similar low coeflicient of frie tion. The construction and arrangement of the-combined bearing and sealing ring 31 and the associated resilient sealing ring 36 and their manner of co-operation results in the hollow body member being able to rotate relatively slowly yet freely in a'controlled manner about the up- T he spindle 17. is provided at its.

for detachably coupling it'to. the waterdelivery pipe and this is preferably in the form of a screw coupling-41.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

of said spindle projecting axially therefrom and being pr'o vided at its outer end with means for detachably coupling it to :a water delivery pipe, said spindle being provided at an intermediate" point in itslength with a laterally projecting annular flange forming inner and outer abutments and being also fitted With-a collar which is slidableon the inner'end portion of said spindle, a helical spring under predetermined compression located between said collar and the opposed inner abutment onsaid flange, the outer end portion of said collar'forming an endless bearing surface adapted to engage an associated bearing ring carried by said hollow body member, a rubber or like resilient sealing ring encircling said spindle and engaging the outer abutment on said ,flange,fand an associated bearing 'ringcomposed of polytetrafiuorethylene or other'plastic material having a similar low initial co-efficient of friction and carriedby said hollow body member and having an endless inclined bearing surface on that face 3 adjacent to said rubber ring, aid bearing surface being inclined transversely and inwardly; towards the opposite face of the ring, -said compression spring urging said hollow body member and said spindle apart in an axial direction so asto maintain said collar in engagement with its relatively rotatable bearing ring on the hollowbody member and to also maintain said associated sealing and bearing ring in .relatively'rotatable engagement in such a manner that the sealing ring is compressed radially and in wardly by said inclined bearing surface andthus yieldingly opposes rotation ofysaid body member aboutitsstationary spindle when in use while simultaneously providing a rotary water seal between said relatively rotatable sealing and bearing rings. a

2; A device according to claim 1 wherein said hollow body member is provided with a depending skirt defining a main entrance thereto and having an annular shoulder on the bottom thereof, said meansv for detachably con'nectingthe hollow body member to its spindle ineluding a threaded coupling adapted to engage a mating screw thread on said skirt and having an inwardly projecting annular flange which underlies said shoulder on the skirt whereby the marginal edge portion of said bearing ring having the inclined bearing s'urface is clamped between said skirt and its associated threaded coupling so as I to rotate with said hollow body member when in use. 7 I 3. A rotary water sprinkler as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inclined bearing surface of said bearing ring is inclined at an angle of between 45 and 67 /2 in relation to the axisof saidspindle. I p

4. A rotary water sprinkler as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inclined bearing surface of said bearing ring is in- I clinedfat an angle of 60 in relation to theaxis of said lower end with means having an open ended passage therethrough and being provided with means for detachably connectingit to said "hollow .body member in coaxial relationship with the :main axisthereoflpartflof said spindle being accommodated within the hollow body member and the remainder spindle. g a e 5; A rotary Water sprinkler as claimed in claim 1 wherein the upper end portion of said collar and the flange thereon define an upwardly facing smooth endlessbearing surface which is convex a'nd substantially semi circular in cross section.

References Citedbythe Examiner UNITED STATES, PATENTS 1,202,787. 10/16 Bradshaw 239-259 2,228,720 l/41 Coles 239-231 2,315,844 4/43 ,Ferrando et al. 239-258 2,497,224 2/50 Laure 308-15 2,574,874 11/51 Koeppel' 239-257 j 2,586,517 2/52 Coles 239-230 2,983,452 5/61 Lindbloom 239.-259 2,992,781 7/61-1I-Ioward 239-250 3,038,667 6/62 Sandie 239-257 3,064,678 11/62 Shames et al 137-562 3,121,536 2/64 McKibben 239-253 MLHENSON WOOD, JRQPrimary Examiner.

EVERETT w. KIRBY, Examiner. 

1. AN IMPROVE ROTARY SHORT ARM WATER SPRINKLER COMPRISING A HOLLOW BODY MEMBER AND MOUNTING MEANS FOR SECURING IT TO AN ASSOCIATED WATER DELIVERY PIPE, SAID MOUNTING MEANS INCLUDING A STATIONARY SPINDLE OR PILLAR HAVING AN OPEN ENDED PASSAGE THERETHROUGH AND BEING PROVIDED WITH MEANS FOR DETACHABLY CONNECTING IT TO SAID HOLLOW BODY MEMBER IN COAXIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MAIN AXIS THEREOF, PART OF SAID SPINDLE BEING ACOMMODATED WITHIN THE HOLLOW BODY MEMBER AND THE REMAINDER OF SAID SPINDLE PROJECTING AXIALLY THEREFROM AND BEING PROVIDED AT ITS OUTER END WITH MEANS FOR DETACHABLY COUPLING IT TO A WATER DELIVERY PIPE, SAID SPINDLE BEING PROVIDED AT AN INTERMEDIATE POINT IN ITS LENGTH WITH A LATERALLY PROJECTING ANNULAR FLANGE FORMING INNER AND OUTER ABUTMENTS AND BEING ALSO FITTED WITH A COLLAR WHICH IS SLIDABLE ON THE INNER END PORTION OF SAID SPINDLE, A HELICAL SPRING UNDER PREDETERMINED COMPRESSION LOCATED BETWEEN SAID COLLAR AND THE OPPOSED INNER ABUTMENT ON SAID FLANGE, THE OUTER END PORTION OF SAID COLLAR FORMING AN ENDLESS BEARING SURFACE ADAPTED TO ENGAGE AN ASSOCIASTED BEARING RING CARRIED BY SAID HOLLOW BODY MEMBER, A RUBBER OR LIKE RESILIENT SEALING RING ENCIRCLING SAID SPINDLE AND ENGAGING THE OUTER ABUTMENT ON SAID FLANGE, AND AN ASSOCIATED BEARING RING COMPOSED OF POLYTETRAFLUORETHYLENE OR OTHER PLASTIC MATERIAL HAVING A SIMILAR LO INITIAL CO-EFFICIENT OF FRICTION AND CARRIED BY SAID HOLLOW BODY MEMBER AND HAVING AN ENDLESS INCLINED BEARING SURFACE ON THAT FACE ADJACENT TO SAID RUBBER RING, SAID BEARING SURFACE BEING INCLINED TRANSVERSELY AND INWARDLY TOWARDS THE OPPOSITE FACE OF THE RING, SAID COMPRESSION SPRING URGING SAID HOLLOW BODY MEMBER AND SAID SPINDLE APART IN AN AXIAL DIRECTION SO AS TO MAINTAIN SAID COLLAR IN ENGAGEMENT WITH ITS RELATIVELY ROTATABLE BEARING RING ON THE HOLLOW BODY MEMBER AND TO ALSO MAINTAIN SAID ASSOCIATED SEALING AND BEARING RING IN RELATIVE ROTATABLE ENGAGEMENT IN SUCH A MANNER THAT THAT SEALING RING IS COMPRESSED RADIALLY AND INWARDLY BY SAID INCLINED BEARING SURFACE AND THUS YIELDINGLY OPPOSES ROTATION OF SAID BODY MEMBER ABOUT ITS STATIONARY SPINDLE WHEN IN USE WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY PROVIDING A ROTARY WATER SEAL BETWEEN SAID RELATIVELY ROTATABLE SEALING AND BEARING RINGS. 